If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Top Quilt for hammock and Ground

I'm 6' even 250lbs and I split my backpacking between my Hennessy for solo trips and my Tarptent for trips with the female hiking companion. What i am looking for is a sleeping bag / top quilt that will work for me on the ground and in the hammock. I know that most quilts will work in the hammock but I am specifically looking for a wide TQ for dual use. I want something three season. Warbonnet Wide Mamba 3 season is the only one i can find. I want got get a 3 season Phoenix eventually and a matching set would be nice does Hammock Gear make custom orders? I guess I just want suggestions on a good WIDE 3 season TQ. Thanks you guys are great.

Going to the ground, your likely to have a pad and a ground cloth.
So most of the topquilts will work. They may be a little tricky, limiting how much rolling and turning you do at night. As you roll around, the quilt may expose some drafts, then you need to readjust to seal the open edges back down to the pad.

A regular sleeping bag can be used as a topquilt in the hammock and will perform as normal on the ground.

I prefer a wider quilt also and have the sierra sniveller with the full length omni-tape option. This allows me to put omni-tape on my sleep pad and connect the quilt to the pad when I do use a t#$t (censored) They also offer quilt wings which I'm looking at right now.

The only other one I've found is the mamba, I'm emailing with Brandon right now on a winter long/wide version.

Look at the JRB line; the Sierra Sniveller (High Sierra Sniveller for winter). This line is wider at the shoulders than the rest of their line and meant for ground use. I'm 6'2" and I'm down to 220lbs (about a size 46-48 jacket) and this quilt proved plenty of room. I was worried about a narrow quilt and feeling pinned down. I'm also a side sleeper too. At one point in the night I had to get up and I actually go beck under the quilt with e Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero jacket on (it was 7* and I wasn't taking off my jacket until I was under my quilt) and fit just fine....this jacket is puffy too.

I've only had my JRB HSS out once so I can't give you any longterm feedback but I am satisfied so far. I would say that their temperature rating is true to their statements. The only time I got cold was when I got up and left my bag.

Oh and if you want any pics or have any questions about details of how the quilt works, let me know and I'll try to get you whatever you need. I'm close to your body size so I may be able to clear up any questions.

The only difference between a "hammock" quilt and a "ground" quilt is it's width.
The quilt on the ground has to cover you from the ground to your left to the ground to your right, plus something on each side to tuck in. Also, remember, if you sleep on an inflated mattress, that will lift you up off the ground and required a still wider quilt.

The situation is different in a hammock where the sides (and under quilt) of the hammock wrap up around you, sort of meeting the top quilt part way. Therefore, a true gram weenie will take advantage of this and use narrower quilts, but be at a disadvantage going to ground.

Since, you want a multipurpose quilt, simply size what you need for ground, and it will work in the hammock.

Since, everyone is built differently, lay under a blanket on the floor with whatever pad you will use. Make sure one edge of the blanket is just touching the floor on one side and have someone else place pins in the blanket on the other side where it touches the floor. Remember to lay the same way you sleep, on your side, back, fetal, etc.

Then don't forget to add to that width, something to tuck in under you or under the pad, depending on your preference. Again, true gram weenies would make the "wings" to tuck in out of a single layer of nylon.

As explained well earlier, Jacks-R-Better illustrates this principle in the different quilts they offer.

I have a GoLite 3-season ultralight quilt and I really like it. I haven't used it on the ground yet (thankfully), but it's pretty nice in the hammock. It was designed to be used on the ground so I see no reason to think it wouldn't work there. Picked mine up for a song at the seasonal GoLite factory store - wholesale prices, baby!

I have a Hammock Gear Burrow and just received the JRB No Sniveller. I think either would work fine on the ground, and I often sleep in front of the TV using these. The three-season Burrow is warmer, but the JRB No Sniveller is more versatile as it can be a UQ, TQ, or as a garment.

I know some folks have extra-wide Burrows, so Adam was doing custom orders.